You are here

In Tanzania, CDI is working with nearly 6,000 smallholder farmers during the 2016-2017 season.

The Anchor Farm Project integrates commercial farming and smallholder farmer outreach, providing them with access to inputs, agronomic knowledge, and markets. After success in Malawi, CDI brought the integrated agribusiness model to the Iringa Region of Tanzania in 2013. CDI established Ruaha Development Company to manage the operations of Ngongwa Farm, a 900 hectare commercial farm owned by the Tanzanian Agricultural Seed Agency. After four seasons, CDI is working with nearly 6,000 farmers during the 2016-2017 season on improved agronomy and is improving access to inputs and markets. CDI has established 60 demonstration plots of maize and soy that CDI field officers use to illustrate the benefits of improved inputs, agronomic recommendations, and climate-smart agronomic practices.

President Clinton is greeted at the SoyCo construction site in Rwanda. SoyCo is contracting with thousands of local farmers across the Eastern Province to grow soybean for its processing plant and is providing high market prices for farmers with pre-season contracts.

Rwandan Farmers Increase Harvests

A Rwandan farmer tends to the soya crops on his plot. The Clinton Development Initiative (CDI) has increased access to various agricultural inputs to spark economic growth in Rwanda.

Trees of Hope Farmer in Malawi

Sekanakoni Banda stands next to one of the trees that he grows as part of the Clinton Development Initiative's Trees of Hope project in Malawi. Launched in 2007 in the Dowa and Neno districts, Trees of Hope aims to reverse deforestation by making tree farming attractive and profitable for farmers.

Increasing Yields at Maize Farms in Rwanda

Through Clinton Development Initiative's programs in Rwanda, smallholder farmers learn improved planting techniques and have expanded access to seeds.

Improving Farmers' Livelihoods in Malawi

Ifijenia Kamtaza, a Malawian soy farmer, is not only improving her harvest and turning more profit - Ifijenia will be able to send her daughter to boarding school and make improvements to her home.

Improving Soy Profits in Rwanda

In Rwanda, the Clinton Development Initiative is helping people increase their livelihoods and reduce malnutrition by developing soybean production cooperatives and businesses, aiming to provide reliable, long-term buyers for local produce and offer farmers a buffer against price fluctuations.

Clinton Development Initiative

In Tanzania, access to quality inputs, such as seeds and agrochemicals, is limited for the 80 percent of the population engaged in agriculture. While a lower population density increases farmers' land size, the distribution of inputs is made even more difficult and therefore expensive. In years with drought, disease, or infestation by pests, the entire country suffers because of the lack of access to pesticides, fertilizer, and other agronomic technology. CDI's programs are focused in the Southern Agricultural Growth Corridor (SAGCOT) in the Iringa, Iringa Rural, Kilolo, and Mufindi districts. The Iringa region has a total population of more than 900,000 people, with a population density of 27 people per square kilometer. The Government of Tanzania view agricultural productivity as the key mechanism to reduce the country's poverty and seeks to increase private sector partnership with agriculture and improve smallholder access to technology.

Commercial Farming

Along with the Tanzanian Government and various seed companies, CDI's Ruaha Development Company is working to register, commercially multiply, and disseminate new varieties – specifically those with high oleic content, as these are healthier and command higher market prices. In addition to seed multiplication, the farm will grow soy, sunflower, and hybrid maize crops for commercial buyers. In order to prepare for the first planting season in 2014, CDI greatly invested in improving the farm's soil fertility and land infrastructure to ready it for commercial operation. Projects include new workshops, storage facilities, staff housing, electrification, roads, and a fuel tank. CDI has since planted the first crops on 400 hectares of land. Maize and soy were cultivated utilizing commercial minimum tillage farm equipment.

Smallholder Outreach

CDI began working with smallholder communities in Iringa during the 2013-14 season. Since then, CDI field officers have facilitated the formation of farmer clubs with nearly 6,000 farmers. CDI provides smallholder farmers with access to inputs, post-harvest opportunities, and training. CDI field officers are establishing a well-organized and empowered network of farmer clubs and associations and utilize demonstration plots in the community to illustrate the benefits of improved inputs and climate-smart agronomic practices.

About The Clinton Development Initiative

The Clinton Development Initiative (CDI) develops and operates agribusiness projects that empower smallholder farmers to increase their economic potential.